5.31.2010

On this Memorial Day, 2010, we remember those who have died in service to our country. My wish for the future is that we don't have to keep fighting and be at war with others so that no more men and women (all over the world) have to die for our 'causes.'

It's heartbreaking to me the thought that there are so many families out there whose loved ones have died in countless wars and pointless ones, at that. I know that we believe that what we are doing in the Middle East is just and justified, but I don't agree. I think that we're looking at it all backwards -- we're trying to take a nation and a culture that is different from our own and mold it into what we know -- that's like the Russians coming to the USA and telling us how to run our government. We have to take into account the different cultural situations -- the different parts of their history -- we need to examine it from their point of view before we can actually make change happen. Quite frankly, all attempts at change will be futile unless they accept it and decide to make that change happen on their own.

Now, don't get me wrong -- I believe that there is a lot messed up in the Middle East -- there's no denying that. The issue I have with it is the approach we have taken. It's all responsive. We are responding to the attack on our country 9 years ago; yet we have still to catch the man who was supposedly in charge of it. We're fighting a 'war on terrorism' yet we still have terrorists in our country today. A terrorist is someone who controls by inciting fear in citizens -- we have those people in our own country, our own citizens, and we continue to protect them and let them think their bigoted ideas.

Mahatma Ghandi said: Be the change you wish to see in the world. So let's do that. Let US be the change we wish to see in the world -- let's stop arguing who's right and who's wrong and just get down to the business of righting ourselves before we postulate to others how they can right themselves.

I hope that the souls of those who have died in service to this country I call home rest in peace and that some day we will find a way to peace instead of war.

5.20.2010

You touch these tired eyes of mineAnd map my face out line by lineAnd somehow growing old feels fineI listen close for I'm not smartYou wrap you thoughts in works of artAnd they're hanging on the walls of my heart

I may not have the softest touchI may not say the words as suchAnd though I may not look like muchI'm yoursAnd though my edges may be roughAnd never feel I'm quite enoughIt may not seem like very muchBut I'm yours

You healed these scars over timeEmbraced my soulYou loved my mindYou're the only angel in my lifeThe day news came my best friend diedMy knees went week and you saw me crySay I'm still the soldier in your eyes

I may not have the softest touchI may not say the words as suchAnd though I may not look like muchI'm yoursAnd though my edges may be roughAnd never feel I'm quite enoughIt may not seem like very muchBut I'm yours

I may not have the softest touchI may not say the words as suchI know I don't fit in that muchBut I'm yours

5.17.2010

So, today I was told that I'm weird because I have a picture of Vladimir Putin at my desk, but in the same sentence I was informed that it's normal to have a picture of Lady GAGA at your desk. Wait, wait, I'm sorry, I'm confused. See, here's the thing: I could give a rat's behind about GAGA and what she's doing. I mean, as a part of humanity, yes, I care about her, but she's not a part of my daily life - aside from what I hear of her on the radio - I don't care about what goes on with her. However, Putin is an active part of my life. He is a part of my daily conversation. I celebrate Vladurday every week with two of my best friends. Further, he is the leader of one of the largest countries in the world - being a student of foreign policy and its functions, Putin is a great part of my life.

This picture is rather humorous, actually, it's from Vladurday a few weeks ago. It's quite amazing, actually - it says "Vladimir Putin is wearing a bear -- your argument is invalid." This statement has humor, but a lot of weight. Satirically, it's extremely valid - Putin was the head of state of Russia for many years, made lots of changes, and had dreams of taking the country back to its Lenin/Stalin history. He established that his opinion was the superior and the one that mattered most. He was president of Russia for 8 years and is now the Prime Minister (and in my opinion, still the president, just with a different name). He was a member of the KGB. He's got big dreams and he's not going to let anything stop him.

On the flip side, he's a brilliant man. He's intelligent, skilled, and very capable. A talented debate master and well versed in the ways of the world, especially that of the United Nations.

In other words, it's my opinion that Putin is superior to GAGA. Now, I realize that not everyone is of this opinion, however, in the grand scheme of things - GAGA isn't going to take over the world like Pinky and the Brain, but Putin will - he's got plans in place. I realize that my ideas of what's important in life are somewhat different from what others view as important, however, I'm getting a little tired of being told that my magazines are 'stupid and boring' and that my research 'sucks because it's boring' and that I'm weird because I prefer public political figures over 'artists and performers.'

5.10.2010

Well, today was another billing day - woohoo! - so I got some more music time in. :) Here's another song from the same band - Thriving Ivory - that hit me pretty hard today.

Unhappy - Thriving Ivory

She takes her clothes off and she saysIs it alright if I stay the night?I don't remember what I said, is it alright?Well she's gone when I awakeLeft a letter, saying everything was a mistakeAnd I'm alone, but it's alright'Cause I understand, I could tell everything's not fineIt's never alright to push away, I'm not as blind as you may thinkAnd I'm tired of all that isAnd I know that this time it's not all in my head

You look a little unhappy, 'bout the way the world is turningIs there anything I could do to take your mind offYour troubled hearted kind?And she said maybe, just maybeYou won't end up like him

It's just another day it's coldAnd I'm losin' myself insideThe colors on the wall, are all fadedAnd all that's left is a hope for another dayThat's not cold again, again, and it's a shameAnd I know that this time it's not all in my head

You look a little unhappy, 'bout the way the world is turningIs there anything I could do to take your mind offYour troubled hearted kind?And she said maybe, just maybeYou won't end up like him

It must been around midnightThere's a ghost at the doorShe said please go slowlyBecause we've all been here before

She takes her clothes off and she saysIs it alright if I stay the night?I don't remember what I said, is it alright?She takes her clothes off and she saysIs it alright if I stay the night?I don't remember what I said, is it alright?And I know that this time it's not all in my head

You look a little unhappy, 'bout the way the world is turningIs there anything I could do to take your mind offYour troubled hearted kind?And she said maybe, just maybeYou won't end up like himYou look a little unhappy, 'bout the way the world is turningIs there anything I could do to take your mind offYour troubled hearted kind?And she said maybe, just maybeYou won't end up like him

5.07.2010

Last year my sister got me hooked on the band Thriving Ivory. I love these guys. I love everything about their record. I like the way it sounds, how it makes me feel, and how it reminds me of things I do want to remember and those I don't want to remember. Today, while I was at work doing billing (worst two hours EVER), I was listening to the CD on my iPod. As always, I fall into each song and love every minute of it, but today was different; this song kept poking me, it kept leaping up and tapping me on the shoulder and reminding me in some way of how much I love it. So, here are the lyrics for you.

Day of Rain - Thriving Ivory

Late againGuilt free in the middle of the pouring rainHair's a mess she saidWould you mind if I spent the night alone?

3am she's upsetIt's not you and it never wasPacks her things she's gone where?That place I'll never knowSomewhere in the middle of the pouring rain

I wake up lateSometimes I wish I never woke up at allAnd I contemplateI guess maybe I'm better off alone

I'm gonna leave this placeI guess winter got the best of us this yearAnd the sky's a messI'll run out in the middle of the pouring rainGod speed in the middle of the pouring rain

When the day is done and you're not here againWhen the day is done and you're not here againWhen the day is done and you're not here againWhen the day is done and you're not here againhere again

When the day is done, when the day is doneWhen the day is done and you're not here again

I'll run out in the middle of the pouring rainGod speed in the middle of the pouring rainI'll find love in the middle of the pouring rain

Ironically, it's about to rain - thunderstorm - maybe even a tornado or two. However, look deeper into the words and find the meaning for you in them.

5.02.2010

25 years ago my grandmother gave me two gifts (well, she gave me more than two, but only two are being discussed in this story...). She gave me a stuffed Big Bird and a stuffed Cookie Monster. They both had on diapers that had the (then) Luvs diaper logo on them (only Cookie Monster still has his on now). Very quickly, I favored Big Bird. Ingeniously, as my grandmother always was, she went out quickly and purchased a second Big Bird so that there would be a back-up, and he was lovingly named "Bird's Cousin". Bird went with me everywhere. He was always with me, on every trip, every adventure, every place I went to, he was there. Only when Bird was forgotten somewhere did Bird's Cousin fly in for a visit.

As I'm sure you've guessed, yes, I still have Big Bird today. And he looks sad, sickly even. But he's Big Bird. The companion who has always been there for me, who has always consoled me when I needed it, and who has helped me cope with numerous nightmares. I know it sounds silly, but when you're a kid, these things matter. Nevertheless, his seams are getting a little ragged and he needs to have some surgery done. My (other) grandmother was always his surgeon, able and agile with the needle, she purchased thread in every color of yellow and orange so as to keep up with his perpetual color changes over the years. She was the only surgeon he was allowed to go to, but when she died, I needed someone to replace her. My aunt willingly took over.

This brings me to the reason for this post: I have to surrender Big Bird for a few days so that he can have his surgery performed, so his Cousin had to come in for a visit. When I put them side by side, I was amazed at the difference between them. It is astonishing to me how different these two stuffed animals, who used to be identical, look today. (I'm sure you can guess which is which, below...)

This got me thinking about how material things can bring us comfort in life. I can guarantee you this: if ever anyone were to do anything to Bird, I would lose it. But, that same philosophy goes for anyone doing anything to a person I care about. Bird is simply a material object that brings me comfort, like blankies and other sorts of animals for other people. It reminds me of times when I couldn't fathom danger. It reminds me of times when I felt safe all the time, because if I didn't - all I had to do was go see my mom, dad, brother or sister, and I felt instantly safe again. Bird is simply an object representing feelings.

This drastic difference in Bird also reminds me of how we can change over the years. As we have life experiences, we change - inside and out, but if we life inside a box for 23 years, we won't change a bit (or at least not very much). The choices we make in life help to build our spirits and create who we are; we are changed by the choices and experiences we have in life. I try to make choices that will be beneficial for not only myself, but the people who are surrounding me in my life. Everything I do, every choice I make, and every experience I have will not only affect me, but everyone else around me, too.

It's just a simple reminder that we need to be cognisant of the things around us so that we are making positive impacts on people in our lives and not negative impacts. I love everyone in my life and am so thankful that I have them around.

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Author:

B.A., M.A. International Relations.
I'm a pet momma, Auntie, friend, sister, daughter, crafty lady, and fan of everything good in life. I try to find the silver lining in every situation and the good in everyone. I hope you enjoy my odyssey through life as much as I enjoy living and telling it.